Yellowstone National Park in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

White Dome Geyser

By Bill Coughlin, July 31, 2015

1. White Dome Geyser Marker

Inscription.

White Dome Geyser. . . White Dome Geyser’s beautifully shaped cone is many centuries old, and is still growing with each eruption. For hundreds of years, thermal water has been building the cone that you see today – one of the largest in Yellowstone. . . Formation of a Cone . . Splashing and spraying during each eruption, thermal water is still building White Dome. After traveling underground through silica-rich volcanic rhyolite, the water deposits silica as it splashes over the cone, forming spiny, bulbous masses of geyserite. More and more bumps form on this gnarly, ancient cone as White Dome grows older and more massive. . . Inside this immense cone is a narrow vent. Each time thermal water bursts through this small passageway, silica is deposited on its walls. Very gradually, White Dome’s vent is getting narrower. . . < Sidebar : > . Fountain or Cone? . Fountain Geysers . Fountain Geysers, like Great Fountain Geyser behind you, erupt through a large vent with a wide opening that can look like a hot spring. Water bursts in many directions. . . Cone Geysers . White Dome and other cone geysers erupt in a narrow jet of water through a slim vent, usually from a cone-shaped formation.

White Dome Geyser’s beautifully shaped cone is many centuries old, and is still growing with each eruption. For hundreds of years, thermal water has been building the cone that you see today – one of the largest in Yellowstone.

Formation of a Cone• Splashing and spraying during each eruption, thermal water is still building White Dome. After traveling underground through silica-rich volcanic rhyolite, the water deposits silica as it splashes over the cone, forming spiny, bulbous masses of geyserite. More and more bumps form on this gnarly, ancient cone as White Dome grows older and more massive.• Inside this immense cone is a narrow vent. Each time thermal water bursts through this small passageway, silica is deposited on its walls. Very gradually, White Dome’s vent is getting narrower.

< Sidebar : > Fountain or Cone?Fountain GeysersFountain Geysers, like Great Fountain Geyser behind you, erupt through a large vent with a wide opening that can look like a hot spring. Water bursts in many directions.

Cone GeysersWhite Dome and other cone geysers erupt in a narrow jet of water through a slim vent, usually from a cone-shaped formation.

Erected by National Park Service.

Location.

By Bill Coughlin, July 31, 2015

2. White Dome Geyser Marker

44° 32.344′ N, 110° 48.16′ W. Marker is in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in Park County. Marker is on Firehole Lake Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is located in the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Marker is in this post office area: Yellowstone National Park WY 82190, United States of America.

More about this marker. The background of the marker features a picture of White Dome Geyser. A photograph of the geyser cone on the left of the marker includes a caption of “An array of minerals and thermophiles – bacteria and algae that live in thermal water – creates a tapestry of color around White Dome’s vent.”

The cone of White Dome Geyser is among the largest in Yellowstone. It's massive size is an indicator of its advanced age.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 9, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 178 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 9, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.

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